Valve controlling lever for gas



Nov. 21, 1933. L, FAY Er AL VALVE CONTROLLING LEVER FOR GAS WATER HEATERS Filed July 13, 1932 Patented Nov. 21, 1933 PATENT OFFICE VALVE CONTROLLING LEVER FOR GAS WATER HEATERS Leo F. Fay and Ormal Goodell, Ecorse, Mich.

Application July 13, 1932. Serial No. 622,306

1 Claim.

Our invention relates to a valve controlling mechanism for gas Water heaters shown in the accompanying drawing and more particularly described in the following specification and 5 claim.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means whereby the supply of gas delivered to a gas water heater,usually located in the basement of the house,may be controlled from a point remote from the heater, such as the bathroom or kitchen, without the necessity of going to the basement to light and shut oiT the gas.

In carrying this invention into eifect, a pilot gas light burner is provided adjacent the burner of the heater, which is supplied with gas through a small pipe line extending from the main gas pipe line to the burner for the heater, regulated by a controlling valve, which may be used to entirely out off the supply of gas through the pilot pipe-line should the house be unoccupied or whenever desired.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a controlling valve lever adapted to be clamped upon the usual valve handle or lever 5 controlling the main flow of gas to the burner, which upon opening the valve, is ignited by the pilot light, as will be readily understood.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lever controlling device simple and inexpensive in construction and operation, which may be readily removed or installed without the aid of skilled workmen, whereby the householder upon moving to a new location, may disconnect the device from the valve of the heater for installation 3 upon a valve governing the supply of gas to the heater at his new location.

A further object of this invention is to provide a spring actuated controlling means which is adapted to insure against accidental opening of the gas valve when closed, or change in its adjusted position when manually opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which may be readily installed upon the lever arm of different types of gas controlling valves, and also for a variety of installations, de-

pendent upon the location of the valve and heater in relation to basement walls, or fixtures.

A further object of the invention includes means adapted for attachment to the gas supply pipe, irrespective of the position and direction of the latter in relation to the heater,to receive and support a spring engaging the operating lever for returning the latter to its initial position when manually released.

Another feature of the invention is a nipple which will appear as the description proceeds, 6U

the invention further resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of the same.

In the drawing accompanying this specification:

Figure 1 is an elevation with parts broken away 7 and in section, showing the device installed upon a gas heater, and connecting means for controlling same from a bathroom, kitchen, or at other remote location, also means for controlling the operation of same.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the several parts comprising the controlling device.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the detachable lever and overlapping plate gripping the valve lever.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View of the wall bracket for supporting the end of the operating chain or cable.

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawing:

A denotes a gas water heater, B its burner, C the usual fuel supply pipe leading from'a gas main to the heater.

D is a valve for controlling the supply of gas from the main to the burner.

E is a valve lever of usual construction controlling the rotation or opening and closing of said valve.

F indicates a nipple adapted to be installed between the valve D, and the gas supply pipe C, leading thereto. The nipple F, is tapped to receive a pilot valve G, controlling the delivery of gas through the pipe H, to the pilot light, located adjacent the burner of the water heater.

The pilot-valve G, is of usual construction and is adapted for regulating, or to entirely out off the flow of gas through the pilot pipe-line.

I denotes a detachable arm adapted tobe secured to the valve lever E,--its upper end I being bent at right angles that it may underlie the valve lever.

J is a plate overlapping the valve lever E, perforated for the passage of bolts K, fitted with nuts, which when adjusted secure the arm I to the valve lever.

The laterally extending portion I of the arm I is provided with a plurality of slots I for the passage of bolts K, which when adjusted, cause the plate J and laterally extending portion I of the arm to grip the valve lever, or ii": employed in connection with certain types of valve levers, the bolts may pass directly th ough slots in the lever to be secured by nuts below the arm I, thereby dispensing with the plate J.

The plate J has a depending flange J which overlaps the edge of the valve lever E to secure it against slippage, that the arm I may not be accidentally disconnected from the valve lever.

I denotes an aperture in the lower end oithe arm I, to receive a cable or chain K supported by suitable pulleys L, L suspended from a basement ceiling, whereby the cable is directed to a wall bracket M, secured to the wall of a bathroom or kitchen.

The ends of the bracket M, have outstanding slotted portions M to receive the cable, to which,

is secured a ring N, as commonly employed by like devices for controlling the draft damper of furnaces.

V Detachably secured to the gas pipe leading to the burner is an arm P fittedwith an overlapping plate P secured thereto by bolts, which upon adjusting the respective elements, grip the pipe.

The lower end of the arm P has a series of apertures P spaced apart to receive the end of a spring S, which in turn at opposite end is engaged to the arm l through the aperture 1 Having indicated the several parts by reference letters, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood.

The pilot light located adjacent the bi ner B, supplies the means by which the gas flowing from the burner B may be ignited, the flow of gas to the pilot-light through the pipe H being controlled or cut off by the pilot valve G, as required.

Upon raising the ring N attached to the cable K from the position shown in Figure l, to the upper outstanding portion M of t -e wall bracket, the arm I is raised against the action of the. spring S,'thereby opening the valve D for the delivery of gas from the main to the burner;- the spring serving to hold the chain rigid against accidental release ofthe valve.

When sufficient hot water has been obtained and it isdesired to cut oii the supply of gas to the burner, the chain is manually released that the valve may return to its normal closed position-shown in Figure 1-through the urge of the spring S, thereby cutting 011 further supply of gas to the burner.

It will be noted that this device may be readily installed without the necessity of calling in the services of a gas fitter or plumber, and that it may be as readily removed to be again installed in another location by the householder without material cost or labor and without disturbing or altering the gas pipe connections already in the premises. It is therefore especially adapted for removal from one location to another should the owner so desire.

We also desire to further stress the fact that this device is especially adapted for attachment to the operating levers of various types of gas valves and may be readily connected in different locations where the general layout and arrangement'of'the piping varies to a very considerable extent.

Having-thus described our invention, what we claim is:

In a gas valve controlling means for water heaters, a detachable arm having a laterally projecting flange perforated for the passage of bolts, whereby the arm may be clamped upon a gas controlling valve lever of a Water heater; a plate adapted to overlap the gas controlling lever, also perforated for the passage of bolts, said plate having a downwardly directed flange overlapping the edge of the gas valve lever, to secure the detachable arm against lateral slippage; a plurality of bolts extending through the overlapping plate and flange of the arm, whereby the arm maybe securely and detachably clamped upon the gas controlling valve lever; a spring engaged at one'end t0 the detachable arm; a bracket arm' adapted to be detachably clamped to a pipe or the like, having a plurality of apertures near its projecting end to receive the opposite end of the spring, whereby the latter may be adjustably connected thereto; a cable connected with an end of the arm detachably clamped to the valve lever, whereby the arm may be raised to open the valve against the urge of the spring; and means for supporting said cable, whereby the valvemay be maintained in its adjusted posi-' tion until manually released.

LEO FAY.

ORMAL GOGDELL. 

